Dual-type Pokémon often have more training pathways than single-type ones, and the two Weavile before them were just that.
One specialized in Ice with Dark as a secondary type, each strike carrying terrifying cold damage, showing deep mastery in the development of freezing moves techniques.
The other specialized in Dark with Ice as a secondary type, relying on high-frequency, high-intensity attacks to rapidly build up pain, fear, and other negative emotions, dealing both physical and psychological damage to its opponent.
On the battlefield, the two Weavile clashed once again.
Ice Punch and Night Slash collided, blue frost and shadowy black energy bursting in all directions, yet neither could overpower the other.
At such close range, they could even see their own reflections in each other's blood-red pupils.
"Weeav~"
Pryce's older Weavile gave a mischievous grin, as if complimenting the younger opponent's strength.
But Sato's Weavile simply scoffed, curling its lip with disdain. Fueled by pride, it mustered even more strength and pressed forward again.
The older Weavile kept grinning, retreating from the fruitless clash and using the momentum to spin its body, completing Swords Dance almost instantly.
Sato's brow furrowed. That momentum-assisted move had been so quick, it was as if the opponent had gained a free move.
The older Weavile's previously weaker strength was now gone, even slightly surpassing its opponent.
It struck back.
Ice Punch!
"Agility!" {Agility.}
Sato's command and Weavile's movement happened at the exact same time; all thanks to synchronized resonance transmitting the order in advance.
As for why he still said it out loud… Sato had his reasons.
No longer locking horns directly, Sato's Weavile displayed stunning evasive abilities, gliding freely across the frozen battlefield, dodging the opponent's frenzied attacks.
Two minutes later, the older Weavile voluntarily halted its assault, staring cautiously at the younger one in front of it.
'What terrifying speed!'
Sato curled the corner of his mouth slightly. This was the area where Weavile had improved the most in recent years.
After all, its mentor… was Fujin's Champion level Weavile. The one capable of freezing a Spacial Rift!
"Brick Break."
"We~aav!"
This time, after Sato gave the command, Weavile didn't act immediately. Instead, it gave its opponent a taunting grin.
Then… Weavile vanished!
Not even a shadow was visible!
But the constant explosive bursts were unrelenting, wearing down the older Weavile's concentration.
Suddenly, a faint black blur appeared to the older Weavile's right.
Without hesitation, it immediately activated Protect's energy shield.
It wanted to bait Sato's Weavile into striking recklessly!
But in the very next second, the black shadow visibly glided past the shield… and vanished again.
It glided… right past it!
The older Weavile's expression changed.
It realized it had lost!
But in truth, the moment it lost track of the opponent's movements, it was already doomed.
Even when Sato's Weavile intentionally exposed a shadowy flaw, the older Weavile had no choice but to take the hit.
Protect was merely a short-lived extension of survival.
And the older Weavile couldn't afford to gamble that the first strike wasn't real.
At such close range, even a slight reach from those bone-white claws would land a hit with ease.
Sure enough, the moment Protect's energy shield faded, the black shadow still hadn't reappeared, and the older Weavile was suddenly blasted back like a cannonball.
Brick Break. 4x effective against the Ice + Dark-type Weavile.
Not to mention, Weavile had been building momentum for so long!
In a showdown between the same species, it was clear who was stronger. Following victories over Lapras and Cloyster, Sato won again in this Weavile mirror match.
Three wins in a row!
Sato's strength was such that even the most seasoned Elite Four -Pryce- "seemed" unable to withstand him at all!
Gradually, Weavile's figure reappeared on the battlefield, still dashing rapidly around the arena.
It was slowly decelerating, using a more controlled method to exit its terrifying high-speed state.
When Weavile finally came to a stop, a faint red glow shimmered on its black skin, and white steam rose from its body. All from the sweat evaporating off.
"W-Wee~"
Weavile panted heavily as it looked at its fallen kin, a flash of excitement in its eyes. Then, it calmly walked back to Sato's side.
As if to say, "That was nothing~"
On the other side, Pryce stared blankly at his fallen Weavile.
How many years had it been since a new Elite Four could outright overpower one of his… secondary team members?
Although Tyranitar and Cacturne had also performed well, this Weavile was the one that truly left him impressed.
'Looks like that Champion Fujin really is the real deal… well then.'
That thought flashed through Pryce's mind like lightning. He quickly converted his daze into a mix of reluctant disappointment, faint admiration, and a subtle trace of relief… hardly noticeable.
Then, Pryce suddenly raised his right hand and calmly spoke under the referee's questioning gaze.
"I forfeit."
WHOOOOAAA!!!
Instantly, the entire stadium erupted in shocked uproar!
Waves of chatter rolling through the crowd.
No one had expected that with the match barely halfway through, the former "number-one" Elite Four, Pryce, would concede so decisively.
'So what if he lost three matches? Where was his Dewgong? His Delibird? His Jynx?
None of his true main team had even appeared. Why the sudden forfeit!?'
Especially those fans who had traveled from far and wide to support Pryce, screaming their hearts out only to be completely crushed under Sato's home-field advantage… at this moment, many of them couldn't hold back their tears.
But no matter the reactions below, the referee, after recovering from his initial shock, confirmed it again before calmly delivering the official ruling.
"I hereby declare that Elite Four Pryce has voluntarily forfeited this match. Therefore, the winner of the third match of the Elite Four Ranking Matches is… Elite Four Sato!"
With the referee's announcement, the result was final. Nothing could change it now.
Yet Sato said nothing. He simply stared silently at Elite Four Pryce across the battlefield.
Pryce looked at the younger Trainer before him -stronger than he had been at the same age, more handsome, and more famous- and he still felt genuinely content.
"…A true powerhouse has strength of heart. The future's yours."
With those light words, Pryce gave a special wave to his supporters, then turned on his heel and exited the field without hesitation.
"…Wee?"
Weavile let out a confused cry, clearly not understanding why someone would forfeit in the middle of a battle.
'…Did I scare them that badly?
Guess I should hold back a bit more, so I can keep having opponents~' Weavile thought seriously.
Sato didn't know what Weavile was thinking, but at this moment, he couldn't shake the feeling that Pryce's clean "exit" wasn't entirely pure.
Maybe he'd been waiting for a moment like this all along… to finally put down the burden of being an Elite Four.
'But then… why now?'
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